Obstruction-alarm



M. ROSENBERG.

OBSTRUCTION ALARM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

WITH/58828 A TTOH/VEYS DESTRUCTION-ALARM.

T at whom it may colwem dent of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York,'have invented a new andgImproved Obstruction-Alarm; of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. v

This invention relates 'to safety attachments for automobiles or other vehicles and hasparticular reference to means preferably of an audible nature for apprising the driver of his proximity to some obstacle adjacent to either the front or the rear end of the vehicle.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a means whereby when the vehicle is being maneuvered in close or crowded positions; such as in garages," crowded streets or hampered parking places, the driver is enabled to devote practically all his at ention to the controlling devices of the machine and hence is relieved to a large extent from attending to the conditions located especially at the rear of the machine o-rvehicla V -With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein stillfor thepurpose of illustrating a prac tical embodiment thereof reference is bad to" the accompanying drawings in-which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in vvhich-v l lgure 1 1s a plan view of attachment indicating diagrammatically an alarm circuit or circuits adapted to be closed in the stationary portion of the circuit system. H

operation of my improvement.

Fig. 2 1s a horizontal sectl onal view of the Fig, 3 is a similar View of the relatively movable portion of the normally open switch device. v -v-- Referring now more specifically to the drawings} show at .10 two supports se cured rigidly in any suitable manner'to any desired partner a vehicle, such as the rear end. These supports many be of any suitable nature as to mechanical construction but preferably are of a hollow structure such as a gas pipe tulnng or the like and each terminating at its free.

Specification of Letters Patent; Patented Apr. 26, 1921. Application filed January 20, 192p. seriafno. s52,7e5.,

end in a fork 11. A bar 12 extends across between the supports 10 and constitutes abrace to stiffen the structure and may in some instances constitute a conduit through which the circuit wires may be projected.

Formed on or attached in any desired .manner to the support 10 is a cup shaped holder 13 in which one end of a relatively strong spring-14 is fixed, the same projecting laterally beyond the holder toward the opposlte support 10. To the other end of 'the spring 14: is connected a contact carrier ofany suitable insulating material and 1n which are fitted two spaced metallic contacts 16 of copper or its equivalent.

Journaled in each of the forks 11 is a tion with the forlr 11.

The ends of the arms 1'? remote from the vehicle are connected by a strong, flexible but non-elastic striking member 19 which may be in the nature or a rope suitably faced with fabric, leather, or some other.

suitable neatappearing cleansable material The free end of each arm 17 carries a block of insulation 20 faced with a plate of metal 21 such as copper which serves as .a bridge for connecting the contacts 16 du'r ing the intended operation of the invention. Any. suitable means may be provided to prevent the undesired bridging of the contacts, 18 during ordinary. road use which might result from the vibration of the arms 17. To this end 1 indicate a lightspring 22 carried by either the bridge 21 or inSula tion; block 20 and projectedqnormally be tween the two blocks .15 and-20'so that the bridge 21 will under-ordinary conditions be held spaced -itrom'the contacts -16 preventing the closing of the circuit. When however any portion of the strilrin'g n'lem ber 19 meets an obstruction causing it'tov be deflected iromits normally substantially straight form the effective length between the-points of connection between the striking member and the arms 17 will be shortened and thereby one or the other of the bridges 21 will be sure to engage and bridge its contacts 16.

lot

, v a g 23 indicates an audible alann devicewhich may be in' the nature of an electric bell, while 24 is a source of energy for the operation of the alarm device. The source of energy is shown as being in circuit through wires and 26 with the contacts 16 of each pair of contacts. The contacts 16 are located in independent lines so that when either pair. of contacts are bridged by the plate 21 the alarm will be sounded. If therefore the driver is backing for example into or against an obstruction causing the bending of the striking member 19 and shortening the effective distance between the-arms 17 he will be apprised of this fact before any damage can result to the vehicle or the obstruction, or any injury can result to the person who might be struck by any device. As soon as the obstruction is withdrawn the parts come back immediately automatically to normal idle position stopping the audible manifestation of the alarm device. This device is adapted to be installed and used either alone or in connection withany suitable or conventional type of bumper, and the nature of the springs 14 is such that no damage is llkely to result to the installation even though the obstaclelor obstruction encountered by the striking member 19 may be of a relatively immovable nature or the impact may be of considerable moment, in fact the improvement may be regarded under certain conditions as a sort of bumper.

I claim:

The herein described circuit closer comprising a pair of spaced supports, abrace extending between said supports and serv- 7 ing to hold them rigid with respect to each ing member connecting the ends of the arms remote from the bridge members.

MURRIS nosnnrinne. 

